noun
Uncommon
vulture
VUHLT-shuh
Vulture (noun) means a large bird of prey that feeds mainly on the flesh of dead animals. Example: “Vultures circled high above the carcass, waiting their turn.”
noun
1
A large bird of prey that feeds mainly on the flesh of dead animals.
"Vultures circled high above the carcass, waiting their turn."
2
A person who takes advantage of others' misfortune for their own gain.
"Investors swooped in like vultures the moment the company's stock collapsed."
How to use vulture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA scavenger bird, or (figuratively) someone who profits from others' bad luck.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
circle like vultures
corporate vultures
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Word forms
- Plural
- vultures
- Third person singular
- vultures
- Past tense
- vultured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ circled high above the carcass, waiting their turn.
Etymology
From Old French voutoir, from Latin vultur. It replaced the native Old English word for the bird, ufe.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for vulture
See all rhymes for vulture →Frequently asked questions
What does “vulture” mean?
The word “vulture” means a large bird of prey that feeds mainly on the flesh of dead animals. In plain terms, a scavenger bird, or (figuratively) someone who profits from others' bad luck.
How do you pronounce “vulture”?
“Vulture” is pronounced VUHLT-shuh (/ˈvʌlt͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “vulture” in a sentence?
Here is “vulture” used in a sentence: “Vultures circled high above the carcass, waiting their turn.”
What part of speech is “vulture”?
“Vulture” is a noun.
Where does the word “vulture” come from?
The word “vulture” comes from Latin. From Old French voutoir, from Latin vultur. It replaced the native Old English word for the bird, ufe.
Is “vulture” a common word?
“Vulture” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “vulture” have?
“Vulture” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large bird of prey that feeds mainly on the flesh of dead animals.
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